Writing-computing machine



April 21, 1931. c WALTER 1,801,470

WRITING- COMPUTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l JQuvzwtot Edwm 12 0. Walter April 1931- E. c. WALTER WRITING-COMPUTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Edward C. Wu Zte'r April 21, 1931. c TE 1,801,470

WRITING- COMPUTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 64 15 A GD 5 Edward C Walter al foz ucq April 21, 1931. E. c. WALTER WRITING-COMPUTING MACHINE 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 13

5 w M E ME? 2 4 a 5 2 2 9 4 2% E 3 I 6 W L i 1 W 5 .3 NH 1 2 V FIZZPI April 21, 1931. E. c. WALTER 'WRITINGr-QOMPUTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIH JIIIIIIlIIIIII/Ill 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII' Patented Apr. 21, T931 1 UNITED STATES W PATENT. OFFICE EDWARD C. WALTER, ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, 'ASSIGNOR TO ELLIOTT-FISHER COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE wnrtrme-ooivrrorme MACHINE Application filed September 13', 1926. Serial No.'135,171.

My invention relates to improvements in v writing computing machines and is particu-,

larly concerned with key locking mechanism for the number keys thereof. I One object of the invention is to equip a machine'of this character with a simplified key locking mechanism operated by the crossfooter restoring mechanism without unduly burdening the latter. 1

Another. object is to provide combined denomination selecting and key locking mechanism operating to automatically lock the keys immediately after a number has been .accumulatedin the crossfooter and applicable to crossfooters of widely varying capacity.

Other objects will be presently apparent from the following description of the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a View in rear elevation of part of an Elliott-Fisher machine, equipped with my invention. I

Figure 2 is a top plan View thereof. Figure 3 is an end view of the same. Figure 4; is a transverse sectional view on the line l4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a top plan view showing an ex treme position of the denomination selecting mechanism in which it is completely out of operation. 4 l Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional, view taken approximately on the line 66 of Fig ure 5. 1 r

Fi ure 7 is a similar sectional view showing t 1e keys lockedby operation of the denomination selecting mechanism.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing operation of the locking mechanism by thetransfer restoring mechanism.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view on the line 1010 of Figure 2 and showing the number keys unlocked.

, Figure 11 is a similar view showing the keys locked, and, I Figure 12 is a view in rear elevation illustrating the operation of a coupling mechanism for automatically operating the denomination selecting and key locking mechanism. Since the Elliott-Fisher machine is well known, it will only be necessary to describe and illustrate the parts of this machine with which my invention is directly connected.

Briefly'stated, this type of machine includes a main carriage 1, supporting printing mechanism including a series of number keys 2.

The carriage and printing mechanism are 1 movable on a linespacing frame 4, transversely of a flat work supporting platen, not shown, for letter spacing, and longitudinally of the platen, with the frame, for line spacing, whereby numbers may be printed in different columns. The keys 2 rotate a primary master wheeh 5 fixe d upon a master wheel shaft 6 suitably journaled upon the carriage.

The master wheel 5 and its shaft 6 are rotated indifferent-degree, according to the numerical value of the keys 2 by differential mechanism including the depressible members 3 provided usually with non-print keys 3 The number keys 2 also operate the usual escapement mechanism, not shown, for letter spacing the carriage 1 step by step through the denominational positions of a column.

:As the carriage'l letter spaces through a C01? 'umn position it moves the primary master wheel 5 to successive number wheels 7 of one of a series of stationary column registers 8,

mounted on the line spacing frame 4, whereby valuesare accumulated in the register 8 in the denominational orders in which they are printed in the column.

A crossfooter or accumulator 9 is mounted upon one end of the carriage to move therewith. The crossfooter 9 includes number wheels 10 freely rota-table, on a horizontal shaft 11, and geared to indicating wheels 12. The crossfooter 9 also includes the usual battery of transfer devices, not shown; for instance, those disclosed in the patent to F oothorap, #1,455,196, which are all simultaneously restored to normal or starting position by transfer restoring mechanism presently described. .The number wheels 10 are driven by means of a secondary master wheel or crossfooter actuator 13 which is laterally movable upon a squared shaft 14 parallel with the shaft 11. The shaft 14 is rotated by the master wheel shaft 6 through reversible gearing 15.

The transfer restoring mechanism, indicated generally at 16, includes a depressible restoring key 17 retracted by springs 18. A- full stroke mechanism (not shown) compels a complete down stroke of the key 17 as shown in the patent above cited.

The mechanism for locking the keys 2 includes a series of key-locking dogs 19 pivoted as at 20 between the members 3 so that, unless obstructed, they will swing laterally and permit downward movement of any one of the members 3 the remaining members being thus locked against depression. One of the dogs 19 comprises separable members 21 and 22 which, when separated, look all of the actuator levers or members 3 by obstructing the movement of the two adjacent levers and by preventing the other locking dogs 19' from moving laterally. v

The crossfooter actuator 13 is shiftable along the crossfooter shaft 14 through an advance and return cycle of movement during which it advances from a. normal idle position adjacent one end of the series of accumulator wheels 12 to a. second idle position beyond the opposite end of said series of wheels.

This cycle of movement is eifected as an auto matic incident of the operation of the combined denomination selecting and lock actuating mechanism.

In its. denomination selecting aspect this mechanism includes a pair of oppositely movable toothed racks 23 and 24, paralleling the crossfooter shaft 14. The racks are connected for movement, one by the other, by indi vidual gears 25 and 26 upon opposite ends of a shaft 27 suitably journaled on the frame of the crossfooter 9. Opposite movement of the racks 23 and 24, for a purpose presently apparent, is effected by disposing them at, opposite sides of the shaft 27.

Movement, in one direction, is imparted to the racks 23 by mechanism holding the rack 24 stationary while the carriage 1 letter spaces through the denominational positions of a-column. This mechanism includes a coupling bar 29 having one of its ends pivoted to a lug 31 extending from ,the rack 24. The

other and free end of the bar 29 is connected to the carriage by. a retractile spring 32.

The spring 32 yieldingly holds the bar 29 and rack 24 in such position that the lug 31 bears against a stationary part of the crossfooter 9 and limits movement "of said rack and bar relative to the carriage 1, in the direction of its letter spacing movement. -Nor-' mally the bar 29 is held elevated by a roller 34 on a pivoted arm 35 urged by a spring 36.

- Upward movement of the bar 29 is limited 60 by a plate 37 mounted'upon the carriage 1 and having a cam slot 38 which receives a the bar 29 and the rack 24 during further advance movement of the carriage. During such advance of the carriage the bracket 37 f will advance and the wall of the cam slot 38 will force the free end of the bar 29 downward to disconnect the coupling members 33 and 40 when the carriage has traversed a column position. If desired the plate may be provided with a slotted ear 41 for guiding the free end of the bar 29 in its movement toward and from the stationary coupling 33. also an eccentric stud 41 may be used for adjustably connecting the bar 29 to the stud 31.

The driven rack 23is coupled to the crossfooter actuator 13, by a yoke 42, engaging a grooved hub 43, whereby the actuator is advanced from its normal idle position to its second idle position when the carriage is advanced with the bar 29 held stationary by the lug'33. The parts are returned to normal position by the spring 32 when the bar is uncoupled or released in the manner described. It will be noted that with this form of rack and gear drive the movement of the actuator 13 is limited only by the length of the racks 23 and 24 and that the capacity of the crossfooter may be increased by merely adding accumulator wheels 12 and lengthening the racks, and releasing cam.

Referring now to the combined denomination selecting and lock actuating mechanism, in its lock actuating aspect, the driven rack 23 in its normal position projects under the members 3. and carries a double faced cam 44. This cam 44 underlies a lock operating lever 45 pivoted at 46. The lever 45 carries at its free end a double faced cam head 47 engaged by the cam 44 toraise the free end of the lock operating lever 45 as the actuator moves past the number wheel of lowest order. When thus raised the lever 45 operates a separator lever 48 to effect the separation of the members 21 and 22 of the key locking mechanism. For this purpose the separator lever 48 carries at its free end a forwardly projecting pivoted compensating finger 50 which at its outer end engages between the separable members 21 and 22, and urges them apart to lock the numeral keys 2. The opposite end of the compensating finger 50 is yieldingly held against a lateral offset 49- of the lever 48 by a spring 51. If separation of the members 21 and 22 is blocked, for instance, by a key 2 sticking in a depressed position, the finger will yield to avoid breaking or derangement of the operating parts. The outer end of the finger 50 abuts any suitable fixed part of the carriage mechanism to limit its downward movement.

It will be noted that the coaction of the cams 44 and 47, and the parts operated thereby, presents little or no resistance to. movement of the carriage or to the contraction of the parts is reversed.

The combined denomination selecting and lock actuating mechanism is itself automati-i cally locked against return movement, when the master actuator 13 has advanced to its second idle position, which occurs as will be' understood when it has passed one step beyond the accumulator wheel 12 of the lowest denominational order. In such position the number keys 2 are locked. This locked condition of the machine has a double purpose. First, it signals the operator if an operation of the machine is attempted at this time.

For instance, if through misadjustment of a column stop, or otherwise, a number is print- .ed in Wrong denominational order, an atmounted upon one side of the crossfooter 9 and extending between the restoring key 17 and the driven rack 23. The slide 52 is spring urged toward the rack 23, and disposed so'that one end enters a notch 53 in the rack to hold it and parts connected therewith against return movement.

Upon depression of the restoring key 17 to effect the restoring operation, the locking slide 52 is withdrawn from the notch 53 by means of a pin 54 projecting laterally from the key 17 and engaging one end of a slot 55 in the locking slide. The slot 55 is concentric with the pivot of the key 17 to permit idle movement of the pin 54 in the slot until the restoring operation is completed. Thus the actuator 13 is not released until the trans fer mechanism has been completely restored.

- As soon as the actuator 13 is released the spring 32 returns it to adjacent the left-hand end of'the series of wheels 10 and thedouble faced cam 44 is re turned from under the double headed cam 47 of the lock operating lever 45. I At this point, that is, at the end of the down stroke of the restoring lever 17 which is its position of maximum load, the keys 2 are unlocked to relieve the restoring key of any extra load incident to maintainin said keys 2 in locked condition. This unlo iing is accomplished by means of a lever 56 ivoted intermediate its ends upon the cross ooter 9 adjacent the locking slide 52 and provided at one end with a cam slot 57 receiving the pin 54. The shape of the slot is such that the lever 56 is rocked in one direction and returned to starting position by each stroke of the restoring key 17 The opposite end of the lever 56 enits first idle position.

gages a lateral projection 58 at one end of a lever 59. This lever is pivoted intermediate its ends upon the carriage 1 and is rocked during each stroke of the restoring key 17. The other end of the lever 59 has pivoted thereto one end of a. pull rod 60, the other end of which is suitably guided upon the carriage 1 to move lengthwise of the lock oper ating lever 45. At its guided end the pull rod is bent to project beneath the lever 45. A suitably connected retractile spring 61 causesthe rod 60 and lever 59 to follow return movement of the lever 56. It will be seen that the rod 60 reciprocates once during each stroke of the restoring key 17 and that its return occurs at the end of each stroke thereof. The bent end of the rod 60 engages a cam heel portion 62 on the lock actuating lever 45 graduated so that the forward stroke of the rod 60 raises the lever 45 to lock the keys 2 and the return stroke of said rod lowers said lever to unlock them. From the foregoing it will be seen that the keys 2 are unlocked at the end of each stroke of the restoring key 17 to'take the load ofi the restoring key 17 but that the keys 2 are locked during intervals sufiicient to prevent their depression while the transfer mechanism is 'being restored and the actuator 13 is return Ihe connection just described between the" restoring key 17 and the lock operating lever 45 provides for locking the keys 2 independently of the actuator 13 if it becomes desirable to restore the transfer mechanism before a number is completely written and while the actuator is in anintermediate position, for instance, if the operator detects a wrong number while it is being written.

It should be stated that the actuator 13 in these machines has beyond its second idle position an extraordinary idle position into which it is shifted manually by means of the stud 63 when it is desired to operate the machine, for recording only. In this position the keys must be unlocked. The notch 53, it will be noted is elongated to permit such movement of the rack 23 while the locking slide 52 is seated therein. In this position the number keys 2 are unlocked since the cam 44' moves beyond the cam 47. The usual spring urged crossfooter release key 64 looks the parts in this last position by cooperating with a second notch 65 in the rack 23. Upon depression of the crossfooter release key 64 the rack 23 is released and together with the actuator 13 is returned to second idle position by the spring 32 whereupon the cam 44 again wipes-under the cam 47 to lock the keys 2. A leaf spring 66 is aflixed to the crossfooter 9 to be tensioned by the actuator 13 as it moves into its extraordinary position and serves to accelerate its return to its secwithout departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims and such modifications are intended to be comprehended by the present disclosure.

I claim:

.1. In a machine of the character described,

an accumulator, including transfer mechanism, denomination selecting mechanism having a traversing cycle of movement relative to the accumulator, transfer restoring mechanism having an operating cycle of movement, a series ofkeys, and key locking mechanism operated to lock and unlock the keys by movement of said selecting and restoring mechanisms respectively and including means for repeatedly locking the keys by movementof one of said selecting and restoring nechanisms-through a single cycle of its'operation.

2. In a machine of the class described, an accumulator including transfer mechanism, denomination selecting mechanism having a traversing. cycle of movement relative to the accumulator, transfer restoring mechanism having an operating cycle of movement, a series of keys, and key locking mechanism operated to lock and unlock the keys by movement of said selecting and restoring mechanisms respectively, and including means for repeatedly locking the keys by movement of said restoring mechanism through a single cycle of its operation. I i

3. In a machine of the class described, an accumulator including transfer mechanism, denomination selecting mechanism having a traversing cycle of movement relative to the accumulator, transfer restoring mechanism, having an operating cycle of movement, a series of keys, and key locking mechanism operated to lock and unlock the keys by movement of said selecting and restoring mechanisms respectively, and including means operated by movement of one of said selecting and restoring mechanisms to lock and unlock thekeys during an intermediate interval in its cycle of operation.

4. In a machine of the character described, an accumulator including transfer mechanism, denomination selecting mechanism,

transfer restoring mechanism, having an operating cycle of movement, a series of keys, and key locking mechanism operated to lock and unlock the keys by movement of said solecting and restoring mechanism respectively and including means operated by the restoring mechanism to lock the keys at the beginning of and periodically during a restoring operation. Y

5. In a machine of the an accumulator including transfer mechanism, a series of keys, transfer restoring mechanism, and means operated by the transfer restoring mechanism and repeatedly looking the keys during a singlerestoring opera tion. a v

6. In a machine of the character described,

character described,

an accumulator including transfer mecharepeatedly locking the controlling keys during a single restoring operation.

7. In a machine of the character described, an accumulator including transfer mechanism, accumulator controlling keys, transfer restoring mechanism including a restoring key, and mechanism operated by said key and locking and unlocking the accumulator controlling keys during a single stroke of said key.

8. In a machine of the character described, an accumulator including transfer mechanism, accumulator controlling keys, transfer restoring mechanism including a restoring key, and mechanism operated by said key for locking and unlocking the accumulator controlling keys during each stroke of said key.

9. In amachine of the character described, an accumulator including transfer mechanism, transfer restoring mechanism, a series of keys, key locking mechanism including separable members, and means separating the members repeatedly by operation of the transfer restoring mechanism through a single restoring operation.

10. In a machine of the character described, a series of keys, key locking mechanism, a separate lock actuating key, and means operated by said key and actuating the key locking mechanism to lock the keys of the series repeatedly during one operation of said lock actuating key.

11. In a machine of the character described, a movable carriage, an accumulator and an actuator moving with the carriage and relatively movable to effect denominational selection, a series of keys, key locking mechanism, and mechanism for effecting such relative movement of the accumulator and actuator, and actuating the key locking mechanism, and including, a gear drive moving with the carriage and a driving rack, a coupling bar for coupling the rack to the fixed couplingby movement of the carriage, said bar being movable toward and from the fixed coupling, and a roller and slotted cam plate for moving the bar in the opposite direction mounted on the carriage and bar respectively.

12. In a machine of the character described, a movable carriage, a series of keys, key looking mechanism, lock actuating mechanism moving with the carriage and including a movable driving rack, a fixed coupling, a coupling bar for coupling the rack to the fixed coupling by movement of the carriage,

said bar being movable toward and from the fixed coupling, and a roller and slotted cam plate for moving the bar in one direction relative to the fixed coupling mounted on the carriage and bar respectively.

13. In a machine of the character described, a movable carriage, a series of keys, key locking mechanism including toothed racks mounted upon the carriage and movable with respect thereto, an individual gear for each rack, a shaft connecting the gears, a fixed coupling, mechanism for coupling one rack to the fixed coupling by movement of the carriage including a pivoted bar moving with the carriage, a spring pressed roller urging the bar in one direction, and a roller and slotted cam plate for moving the bar-in the opposite direction during movement of the carriage.

14. In a writing adding machine, the combination with a carriage, a register mounted on one end of the carriage to move therewith and including a relatively shiftable actuator, keys, key locking mechanism on top of the carriage, and a fixed coupling at the rear of the register and below the top of the carriage,

of a pair of reciprocatory racks on the register located adjacent the front and rear thereof,'respectively, one above the top of the carriage and the others below said top to operatively position them relative to the key locking mechanism and the fixed coupling, means for connecting the lower rack with the fixed coupling during travel of the register, an inclined shaft on the register geared at its opposite ends to said racks, and devices on the .upper rack for shifting the actuator and operating the key locking mechanism respectively.

15. In a key controlled computing machine, the combination with a carriage, a register mounted on and movable with the carriage and including side plates one of which is removable to facilitate access to the register, and an independently shiftable actuator in the register, of key lockingmechanism, and mechanism for shifting the actuator and actuating the key locking mechanism operated by movement of the register and including, a pair of reciprocatory racks projecting respec tively through the side plates of the register and removable therefrom, and a shaft-geared at its opposite ends to opposite sides of the racks respectively and mounted upon said removable plate for removal with said plate.

16. In a keycontrolled writing computing machine, the combination with a travelling computer, and .an actuator having an advance and a return movement, of key locking mechanism, and operating mechanism for automatically advancing and returning the actuator and operating the key locking mechanism to lock the controlling keys in one direction of movement of the actuator, said mechanism including a gear drive operated by movement of the register and for effecting operation of said operating mechanism at a uniform speed ratio relative to movement of the register, an automatically operating lock for locking the operating mechanism to prevent operation of the actuator in the opposite direction'and including a releasing key, and means operated by the releasing key and operating the key locking mechanism to repeatedly lock the controlling keys as an incident to movement of said actuator in said opposite direction.

17. In a key controlled writing computing machine, the combination with a travelling computer including transfer mechanism, transfer restoring mechanism including a restoring key, and an actuator having an ad- Vance and a return movement, of key locking mechanism, and operating mechanism for automatically advancing and returning the actuator and operating the key locking mechanism to lock the controlling keys when the actuator has been fully advanced, said mechanism including a gear drive operated by movement of the register and for effecting operation of said operating mechanism at a uniform speed ratio relative to movement of the register, an automatically operating lock for locking the operating mechanism to prevent return of the actuator and adapted for release by said restoring key, and means operated by said key and operating the key locking mechanism to lock the controlling keys repeatedly during return of the actuator.

18. In a writing computing machine the combination with a travelling register, and a series of keys, of mechanism automatically locking and unlocking the keys in timed relation to movement of the register and including a reciprocating member moving with the register, and a gear drive operated by movement of the register to move the member in one direction at a uniform speed ratio relative to movement of the register.

19. In a key controlled writing adding machine, the combinatiorvwith a carriage, a register fixed upon one end thereof and including side plates one of which is removable to facilitate access to the register, an actuator shiftable between said plates, and a fixed coupling at the rear of the register below the top of said carriage, of key locking mechanism 011 top of the register, a pair of reciprocatory racks projecting through the side plates of the register for removal therefrom, said racks being located adjacent the front and rear of the register respectively, one above the carriage and the other below the same to operatively position them relative to the key looking mechanism and the fixed coupling, devices for connecting the lower rack with the fixed coupling during movement of the register, devices on the upper rack for shifting the actuator and operating the key locking mechanism, and an inclined shaft geared at its opposite ends to opposite sides of said racks respectively and mounted upon said resignature. K

EDWARD C. WALTER. 

